In defiance of the Oscars…

…I played video games.

I was in need of NEW gaming action that would sate both my need for some puzzle-solving and general curiosity for exploring, without having to shoot anything and run around at break neck speeds. After a leisurely work out on Sunday, I stopped in Best Buy. I had seen Myst Uru: Complete Chronicles earlier in the week... and hadn't picked it up since a.) I've got stacks of video games either partially played or unopened and b.) I'm talking STACKS.

Maybe it was fatigue, but I caved.

I've been a fan of the Myst series from the very beginning. It was THE groundbreaking game of it's time, incorporating sound, animation and what was then, high-quality graphics. Multimedia had found an outlet. This was probably around 1994-5. I sat for four days straight with Myst. I was working for a presentation graphics company at the time. Business was slow and the boss was away.

What was so original about Myst, it started you with nothing. You were a nameless explorer, you didn't see yourself (1st person perspective) and you had to logically piece together solutions to puzzles you'd find. You were forced to explore for clues in your surroundings. As each puzzle was solved, slowly, the story would unfold. There were fantastic worlds, created by the fictional ancient civilization of the D'ni, to explore via "linking" books. Around every new turn, new challenges awaited.

Naturally, with such a success, sequels would follow:
Riven (Myst II)
Myst III - Exile
Myst IV - Revelation
and finally Uru: Ages Beyond Myst

Myst Uru: Complete Chronicles is Uru with two expansion packs.
So yeah, I bought it. At $20, it was a steal for the PC. (PC, yeah, I'm not happy about it either.)

After 3 hours of playing yesterday, I'm getting pulled into the world of the D'ni once again.

Okay, maybe it was closer to 4 hours since it was the entire Oscar broadcast.

Alright, maybe 5, I did stay up later.

I have to satisfy the inner geek.

Add to the pile:


I swear... this ADD is expensive.

Astrological Coincidence?

Sunday, February 27, 2005
Leo
You won't be able to avoid your responsibilities today, even if you feel they've been unfairly heaped upon you. It is okay, however, to share your concerns, for your logic is sound. Be serious if that's how you feel. Although you Leos know how to have a good time, you don't need to pretend that all is fun and games. Work hard now; play hard later.

Who am I to argue with the cosmos?

Polishing a turd. Finding balance.

Do I look tired?

In the last 48 hours, I've slept 12 hours. When I write it, it looks like a lot, but when I think back on the past two days, it was very little and has been a trying experience at that. No, it wasn't some drug-induced bacchanal tizzy. A part of me wishes it was, but no, everything in moderation and that is totally not my modus operandi ( I just wrote "totally"?!). On the contrary, I was working, once again cast adrift in the sea of unorganized and befuddling work.

All day Friday was spent waiting for work. For those curious, I'm a Studio Production Artist, doing photo-retouching, page-layout, presentations et al. Big whoop, especially when I'm sitting on my ass, doing nothing. Well, not really nothing, I do post to my blog and read my many cherished blogs. Keep it going boys. Oh.. and there's Halo. My game name is basher. We play Rocket-Only Slayer on "Hang "em High." I win a lot. >:)
Digression again.

They finally came to me with work at 8PM and in complete disarray. GRRRRRR.

"Could you put the frames in this page?"
"How many frames are there?"
"Three. Open the folder."
"There are five pictures in here?"
"There are five frames."
"But you... nevermind."

Confused? I spent most of the evening that way. Don't know how I did it, but I managed to work till 3:00AM. Unfortunately, I felt unaccomplished. The work was so in the beginning stages when it came to me. I was setting templates, art directing and flowing content. Frustrating.

On a positive note, I had the best experience with a taxi last night.
NOT like that potty head, but nice to finally get a cabbie that knows Brooklyn... and doesn't give me some sob story about not going there. I zonked out about 4AM and woke with a start at 10AM. I'd promised to be in at 9AM. EEP!
Called my manager, things are good and in much better shape than we all anticipated. I could take my time. Whew.

Back to work. Had to wait to get back into the fray. Once in, I got into a zone and cooked. Pride myself on my speed and accuracy, but still, the sheer amount of work, I was finally done and out by 11:15PM.
Long week. Not much of a weekend left. I may have to turn around and go back in today (Sunday).
We shall see.

"Don't work too hard, because you'll have to play hard," said RoboCub to me.
Tonight, I realized, I needed this.

Sick... huh?

Commuter Necessities.

If you're a commuter, you've got to be prepared for many possibilities. Be it your comfort or your fellow commuters', it doesn't hurt to have some bare essentials without weighing you down.

Glove Love
Grab that pole and you'll grab whatever it was that the person before you that held that very same pole, umm... grabbed. So on and so forth. Dig? So, one of the biggest favors you can do yourself, especially in the winter months, is bring a pair of gloves and wear them on the subway.

Your Sleeve Won't Do.
Whistling along on the IRT, you're suddenly struck with the creeping feeling in your nose. Next your nose is running faster than the train you're on. Carry a pack of tissues and you'll never have to... yuck... suck it in. Don't ever let me catch you doing a "snot-shot," that's just vile.

Candy with Strangers
We all brush after a meal... right? For those commuters we're stuck with that couldn't, it could be unbearable. Halitosis is not cute. Carrying gum or minted candy helps. Pop one in your mouth... it'll help to redirect your sense of smell.You can offer them a piece, if the dragon is melting your eyebrows and you want to be blunt. The whole "candy from strangers" thing may put them off however. If they're a friend... FIRST pop one yourself and THEN offer them a piece. So as to not insinuate anything.

The Soundtrack of your Ride
The monotonous droning of two, slightly half-deaf, Asian ladies or the "Garden State" soundtrack? Pack your iPod or appropriate MP3 player. Your world is more serene when you can control the audio content and volume.

Shining in the Darkness
Hmm... traveling in a tunnel, powered by electricity, with a good chance some vagrant, homeless person wants to keep warm and lights an inferno in a switch room. Or, remember Aug. 14, 2004.. Northeast Seaboard, no power... yeah.. my birthday was something. All of which could leave you in a dark tunnel. Pack a flashlight. MagLite makes a keychain version. Never hurts to be ready.

If you walk to work... well... bully for you.

This has been a service provided by evilBuddha. Not always evil, sometimes quasi-evil.

Natural Rhythms.

What is it about a snowy night that makes me restless? What could I possibly be missing? There's nothing happening out there. I feel a twinge of anxiousness, of anticipation.

A part of me would love to go stomping around out in the snow, but that would be frivolous. Somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I'm thinking I don't have anything to do tomorrow. There'll be a nice snow cover to play some tackle football with my friends from the block. We'd be fantastically soaked and cold by the end... but that would have been our choice.

Sigh.

Work needs to be attended to tomorrow (nay today). I'll sleep soon, one ear pricked for the crack of bumper-on-bumper. Brooklyn people drive like idiots.

My week in comics

Corey usually does this but while he basks in the afterglow of Bug peeing outside (A big evilBuddha congrats!!!!) and since I'm not inspired to write about anything, here's a list of reads I've picked up this week.

Astonishing X-Men #8
Uncanny X-Men #456
Wolverine #25 - 6 of 6 Enemy of the State
X-Men: Phoenix - End Song #3
X-Men The End TPB
Wolverine - The End

And a small splash of DC…
Superman Batman Supergirl

Weekend Recap

Friday 6:45PM – Leave Work. Start Long weekend.

With the prospect of a three-day weekend, I get fairly excited. There are plenty of things happening in the city and I’d have an extra day for relaxation or recovery. This weekend ended up being a mixed bag.

Saturday, the only thing of note was I went to see “The Gates.” The evening was considerably quieter than expected. A & F were going to come over for a movie, but they’re arguing again and not speaking. F is a child and he’s wrong. Finally got down to watching The Bourne Supremacy. Surprisingly pleased with the movie, a good tense, spy, action thriller. And Matt Damon is hot. Afterwards, I probably stayed up later than necessary, doing nothing on my computer. I did get a decent amount of sleep. Rare.

Sunday was a lazy day in Pleasantville, just above Westchester. Visiting former roommate, Alicia and her child, Andrew, time was spent catching up, eating and entertaining aforementioned child.

Highlight: playing Scene-It? and winning. HA. My useless knowledge of movie trivia pays off!!!

Arriving home at 8:00PM, I headed off to bed for a disco nap, as I was going out to Alegria. The snow had just started to fall. I’d awoken early, showered and prepared for a long evening. I’d spoken to Frank, my dance partner in crime. He was coming to pick me up at 1:00. He called at 1:15.

“I don’t have windshield fluid. I can’t see. I had to stop to clear the window.”
“So, go to a gas station and get some.”
“Well... it’s really bad out here.”
“What are you telling me?”
“I don’t want to drive.”
“Fine. That’s all you had to say. I’ll see you there.”

Not the exact conversation… but the gist of it.

So, off I headed to the subway. The snow had left a blanket over the streets. Arriving on the platform, I waited and made an observation. At my parent’s house in Brooklyn, on a clear summer night, you could hear the “bing-bong” of the subway doors closing on the elevated tracks, a block away. That night while standing on the platform, in the utter quiet, I heard the snow carrying the sound of the elevated trains, four long blocks away. Once I realized what it was, I was thoroughly fascinated. I stood for the next few minutes, listening for my train before I could see it. I heard it coming before it’s lights peaked over the horizon.

Simple pleasures.

iPod a rocking.
One ear open and alert.
Uneventful ride.

Frank and I arrived at Crobar at the same time and entered together. The club was very, very full. I’d never doubt the resilience of the city fag to make it to a party. Myself included. What’s the postman’s creed? “Neither rain nor snow nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from their swift completion of their appointed rounds. This is the postman’s creed.” Change the appropriate parts, you get my drift.

Ran into two very old friends there, E & P. It was good to see them. They remarked how good I look and how I always did. I'm a sucker for flattery, a Leo’s ego does like to be stroked. P had wanted to exchange info since we’d lost touch for some time… but once I broke from them, I never found them again. C’est le vie. I’m sure I’ll see them again.

The groove, the vibe was definitely better than the last. Musically, it was the same as the last with lots of high-energy beats, better mixing but no journey. “Where am I going?” is what I was asking myself.

While I had fun, I wasn’t in a lovey-dovey mood. I spent much of the time dancing on my own, as opposed to moving into the massive, heaving mess of bodies on the dance floor. I quickly got tired of the “dance floor stalkers." I get it. You like me. Don’t hover waiting for me to engage you because after the first five minutes of you staring, you’re freaking me out!!! If I’ve moved to a new position and I find you staring again, you’re lucky I don’t dropkick you.

I shouldn’t expect much, especially social skills, from drug-addled minds.

I should take a break from the big gay dance parties. They’ve become aimless. Although, the Black Party is coming up on March 19 with DJs Chus & Ceballos and Victor Calderone. Totally want to hear C&C play, Victor can throw it down too. Randy Bettis will be doing the morning “Happy La La” portion of the Rites. (I don’t care for Happy La La. Give me deep, dark, heavy beats.) Frank wants to go and wants us to get leather pants. Hmm… I’m positive I’ll look good in leather… but it’s a tad late to have pants made now.

A break wouldn't preclude me from Danny Tenaglia’s Birthday Party at Crobar on Saturday, March 12 either. I need a journey. Danny rarely disappoints.

I’d also love to shake it with RoboCub sometime soon. Hmmm. A break doesn't seem likely. Shrug. Poor me. Heh, it's going to be a busy March. Onwards.

Back to Monday, arriving home at 9:30am…. I immediately and blissfully crashed. I awoke to eat and put in Garden State.


While having little to do with my home state (Morristown, NJ represent yo!) besides the locale, I was pleased and satisfied. It is a quiet, moving movie with great character development. The soundtrack is awesome as well. Go get it.

Monday 9:30 PM - Sleep. End Long Weekend.

A whole lotta saffron.

Today, like a good little 'mo living in NYC, I experienced Christo and Jeanne-Claude's The Gates. Yeah, yeah... I know. This topic has been discussed ad nauseam. I'll keep it brief. Meeting up with a few friends in the West Village, we headed up to Central Park via A Train.

"It's a 9/11 thing," overheard as I neared the park entrance. No doubt, an out-of-towner, fresh from a morning of touring Ground Zero.

"It's so tragic."
"Yeah."
"Take my picture in front of it."

Yeesh. Annoyed, I cleared my mind, took a cleansing breathe and entered the throngs of people moving through the park.

Simply, I was impressed. The sheer magnitude was incredible. It was a gorgeously clear day. Blue sky and saffron. I would have walked all of the paths, but my friend was cold. Hope to be back, probably on my own. The Gates are up till Feb. 28, there's still time.

"Hi, do you blog?"

Last night, I attended a gathering of local bloggers. Arranged by Erik, we were all to gather at XES.

5:30 - Erik and I met earlier to grab a bite to eat at Elmo. We knoshed on calamari and salad. Erik gives good conversation. :)
6:25 - We arrived at XES and were dismayed to find the bar, fairly full. Managing to find a seat with the help of Joseph (self-proclaimed decorator, drink girl and sometime DJ), we settled down for a drink. Yahoo. Two-for-One. It was then we realized we hadn't made any agreement as to how a group of strangers were supposed to approach and meet each other (an error, aside from our tardiness, that left us without Richard). Erik sat facing the door, watching diligently for a familiar face.

Arriving after us, was Steven. Very nice guy, Erik was commenting on how he was his first, blogger that is, that he'd met. Shortly after, Joe arrived and as Erik went to grab him at the bar, a table opened up, and not too soon it seems. Enter Corey, Juan, Oliver and AJ. Followed closely by Byrne, Richard, Jase and Wayne.

Everyone was genuinely cool and it was good to attach people to the blogs I read. As I mentioned before, we did not get to meet Richard, Corey's Boss. It turns out, Erik and I may have missed him while we were there. As Corey came in, he was receiving some "scathing"(not necessarily the right word) emails from Richard. I promised to send him some "suggestive" pictures to ease his anger. Corey keyed in my response to his BlackBerry. A man of my word, I believe I have fulfilled my promise. :) Everyone was having a good time, some too good a time, Jase (j/k). Joe was showing pictures from the Westminster Dog Show and catching some horrible pictures of me. I was trying to do the same. Corey watched The Mummy on the screens, while we chatted about Constantine and Bug.

Unfortunately, Oliver wasn't feeling well (hope you're feeling better) and Corey had company. So they had to leave. AJ and Juan soon followed to go grab a bite. We imbibed a few more drinks, Jase gyrated his hips against anyone who was willing (ah youth) and I chatted with Richard about new, worth watching anime. Alas, Erik, our organizer had to head home, he's leaving for Fireball today. The gathering broke up from there.
9:45PM.

All in all, a very low key evening... but a very nice start. I've got a few photos that I'll be posting for all to see. Even one of Jase's tattoo, which shows a bit too much of the brazilian wax.

Don't call me on Tuesday.

Thanks to Corey, It seems that…



i'm lovable and love people easily. i like making others
feel at ease, and people just can't help but have a good time when they're
around me. get some vicks and let the good times roll.
find out what kind of drug you are @
tara's website.

Read into it what you will.

I've also discovered that,

Oh hello. I am completely gorgeous. You may touch me for a nominal fee, although I’d prefer that you were at least as hot as I am. I was genetically engineered for pleasure. Mine.

What kind of Faggot are you?
Brought to you by Pushing Through

Thanks to Victor. ( V-Hold )

Give em a whirl, and find out what drug/fag you are.

This post brought to you by...

…the no. 4.

Happy Hump-Day.
I'm caught in a mid-day malaise. I'm bored. I've got a few blogs cooking about Nintendo DS, the upcoming Sony PSP and my Apple fanaticism... but I'm not finished on them. Work is slow, with not much going on. Catching up on my blogs, here's a nice review of Constantine.

In other news, in a show of solidarity with my manager, I'm cutting my caffeine intake. So instead of Diet Coke, I'm having Caffeine-Free Diet Coke. Dammit... where's the buzz, man?

I notice the sky has turned dark and foreboding. Rain is coming and I'm without an umbrella. Great.

Here are a few rants:

Personal Hygiene is best left at home.
Twice today on the subway, I was dumbstruck to find someone clipping their nails. It is a foul thing to do. The "out of place" sound of the nails being clipped is odious to me. Personal hygiene doesn't happen when you find the time, you make the time... preferrably, not in my presence.

Excuse me while I fire this shotgun next to your head.
Attention male members of 23rd Street NYHRC: I find it wholly unnecessary to slam locker doors next to my head or anywhere for that matter. If you're trying to impress someone, pounding of the chest would be more effective. Please refrain and save my ear drums. Thanks in advance.

Besides that, I'm in a good mood.
All's well.
I'm going to Alegria again. Anyone else going?

Blackness interrupted.

It's Tuesday. A restful sleep was elusive last night. I'd gotten up several times to grab a drink of water and hit the head, not necessarily in that order. A heavy dinner, caffeine too late in the evening and a donut (ok two donuts, I'm such a fat ass) didn't help matters. I recall having some bad dreams... nothing too troubling. Not like the time I saw myself being shot in the head or backing my car off the side of a building as I watched windows flash by but troubling enough to leave an impression.

Waking and preparing was a chore. As I sat on the train this morning, I felt the familiar crawl of my psyche, into a deeper, darker mood. I scanned the train for a moment... and fell upon a familiar face. It was a fraternity brother, younger than I and for the life of me, I couldn't remember his name. He'd come into the fraternity after me and I didn't know him well. Dressed in a suit, shoulders slumped, he looked really tired and haggard, older than his years.

Seeing him, spun my thoughts into a different direction.
I've always bemused myself with how my fraternity brothers have moved into different stages in their lives, marriage and kids. Essentially, I've remained unchanged, aside from living my life by my own rules.

I mentally compared this brother's state before me to my own and decided, I'm not like that. I know, I know, it's presumptuous of me. But then, I just focused on me, what's positive and what's right. Soon I was humming with good vibes again and still going.

My minor epiphany for the morning, I thought I'd share.

Trivial stuff.
Hit the gym, ran for 20 minutes and sweat more than I did Saturday Night/Sunday morning. Ah... good to purge the system. Then hit Best Buy for some new Tuesday and new to me purchases.

The night didn't turn out as expected.

Saturday, the day itself was uneventful, but productive. I hit the gym, got a haircut, ran a few errands and then headed home for a catnap in preparation for the long evening.

Planned Itinerary:
Birthday Dinner in Staten Island
Last Dance, Closing Party at Spectrums in Brooklyn
Roxy?

Dinner was fine albeit late. We did not eat until 9:00. Anticipating the evening ahead, this was alarming to me. I'd hoped not to be bounding around on a full stomach. Throughout the evening, I'd gotten calls from friends, most of whom were at a pre-party for the Last Dance at Frank's (my party/dance buddy). Some left at 10:30 to head over to Spectrums. "They're heading over to help cut the lemons and limes," we joked. Finishing up at 11:30pm, myself and two friends headed out to Spectrums. Right before heading out, we'd received one last update, the line was around the corner.

Oh.



12:15AM - The queue was ridiculous. When I arrived, it was 3 people deep and not moving. The word got around and the club was unprepared for the large crowd. I contacted Neil, whom I assumed to be inside.

"I left!" he snorted on the phone.
"What?!?", I said incredulously.
"We (he and Eric) were on the line at 11:30 and Jay (the owner) came out and said it would be another hour before anyone else got in. People leaving said it was like sardines in there and coat check is closed! We're at Barracuda."

Regrouping, I called Frank and immediately pulled his friends, Jimmy, Trevor (mmm.. Trevor, handsome beefy bear, nice eyes. I'm crushing), Mike, Tim, Rob and one other ( I wasn't introduced), off of the line. Frank arrived shortly with Steve.

After putting everyone back into a car, Frank, myself and Steve headed into the city.
Hindsight, it's a shame that the guys did not get to see Spectrums, a chance to experience some of disco history has past. I'd hear this many times this night.

Revised Itinerary:
Last Dance, Closing Party at Spectrums in Brooklyn
Hi-Life, Lo-Life @ The Slide - EV
Roxy?

The Slide was an improvement. We were inside. Cute, grungy EV crowd. Nice vibe.
I'd been sober to this point, so two drinks set me straight. Watched the drag show, smoked a cigarette with Trevor, danced around with Jimmy, all was well. I wasn't going to be the first to say anything, but of course, Frank was.

"I'm not feeling this place. The music sucks. Let's go to Roxy."
"OK."

2:40AM - Off we went.

I hadn't been to Roxy Saturday in a while. All I can say is, "Holy Unspectacular Batman!!!!"

The party was more circuit-y than circuit parties. The track selection was mostly vocals, which for anyone who knows, is death to me. I'm guessing the nature of last night's party, The Love Ball, would explain the excessive number of songs with "love" in it, ie. Who do you love?, Show Me Love, Love You Some More, Looking for Love etc. While I do like some of these songs, it was too much, thanks. Don't do it again.

A regular gripe with Mr. Rauhofer, TOO MANY BREAKS!!! It kills the energy in the room. Sorry you had that abysmal wreck and had to pull the track. Please clean CDs thoroughly before use.

I apologize for being a Negative Nancy. I did make the best of my time at Roxy. I was happy to hang and dance with friends especially Greg, an ongoing crush and flirt. I was ready to leave with Frank but running into him, I stayed another hour or so. But being tired and leaden in the legs, I called it quits at 6:15.

I had expectations, I was assured to be disappointed.

6:30AM - Trains are slow.



I know, I know... a cab would have been faster.. but if I have to hear about another cabbie's urinary tract infection, I'd have to kill him. I hate cabs. They always refuse to take me home to Brooklyn from Manhattan. Hence, I train it.

FYI, iPod Shuffle nestled in my pocket was rocking me all the way home.

7:30 AM Home. Shower. Bed.

No More Apple Products!!!

I swear. I can't help myself sometimes.

Ok, most times.

Alright, everytime.

I'm not a zealot. I do own a PC.
I just acquired the iPod Shuffle and it's a nifty piece of hardware. Surprisingly small, packed with goodness in white. I'm in the process of ripping my dance CDs into joined track mp3s. It has always been a pet peeve to listen to my mp3s and have to hear a gap between tracks. The solid state flash memory makes it feasible for large files. Sound is very nice, again, a nice surprise.

So.. I swear.. no more Apple products. Well.. at least until the next new product announcement. I may also want to get the power pack for the Shuffle. Maybe no more after that. Oh wait... there's also the in-ear headphones.
Oh, bother. Nevermind.

Remake and Remix, Extra Cheese.

It is an ugly trend, this compulsion to have 80s (or even older) music remixed into thumping, cheesy dance tracks. My lactose intolerance kicks in and so do the stomach cramps. I'd like to rip my ears off and feed them to the wolverines

It started with "Total Eclipse of the Heart." The original was cheesy enough, a power ballad by Bonnie Tyler. Nikki French felt it necessary to revisit this song, only at about 130+bpms. Searching the web, came across this and I quote,"Nikki French decided it was time to breath some life back into the old chart topper,and her dance club cover of Total Eclpise of the Heart can really liven up parties." WTF?!? I imagine if I put it on at a party, all conversations would come to a screeching halt as cats wailed out, crickets could be heard... and in the distance... a dog barked.

Next on the hit parade, we've got "Heaven" by DJ Sammy. Like fingernails on blackboards. You've also got "California Dreaming" and "Boys of Summer" to make me wretch. According to nzgirl, "If you like raves or techno music, don’t miss this album." Whew.. thankfully she didn't include circuit parties... otherwise I'd have to comply.

The latest steaming, hot serving of songs, better left in the past with unsolicited and unwarranted remixes, have got me wanting to drive directly into oncoming traffic. That's the only time I listen to the radio, hmmm.. that's a clue.

Next up, we've got "Call on Me" by Eric Prydz. It samples from Steve Winwood's song, "Valerie." Featured here.



Now how could I possibly resist the temptation of watching the specially packaged video for this song? It's the hottest video of year. Who am I to argue? and Who the f*ck are they to say?!? The sight of a female aerobics class, clad in one piece leotards and leg warmers, humping the floor. Boy... that's hot. So much so I want to jam flaming hot pokers into my ears while gouging my eyes out with a spoon. Why a spoon?, you say. Because it's dull.



"Listen to Your Heart" by Roxette?
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

Sigh. I wish there was a greater reason for this rant, other than to get it off of my chest. Understandly, artists need to make a living, usually by whatever means necessary. In this day and age of digital music transfer and file sharing, they're not getting as much money as they used to. Let's face it... doing anything for the love of it... isn't putting food on the table... or a Mercedes in the garage.

From the standpoint of dance music, it's sad. The genre itself, doesn't have a great deal of mainstream appeal and credibility. Much of it, is billed as soulless, thumping repetitive beats. Add to it now... the cheese factor and the rehashed lyrics and samples of older, unimpressive songs and what do you have? Sure, It'll make money. It'll spawn more remakes, covers and remixes but it does nothing to evolve the genre or engender more fans, IMHO.

Back step to the generalization that most dance music is soulless, thumping and repetitive beats, I couldn't disagree more. Listening to it, I liken to listening to classical music. Good dance, be it house or it's many derivations, has so many layers and elements. It can inspire you to move and greater emotion... or it can soothe. A track that can get me crazy, can also put me at ease.

Year of Cock.

Sounds like the prize on a gay Wheel of Fortune.
"I'll solve the puzzle, Pat. 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.'"
"That's right." (cue bad band music)
"Woohoo." (Twirling about like a prit.)
"Tell him, what he's won."
"Year of Cock!!!"
Faints.

Heh... of course I meant, Year of the Cock or more accurately the Rooster. But us homos, would prefer to snigger that 2005 is the Chinese Year of the Cock. Ironically, element-wise, it is the Year of the Wood Rooster. snicker. Wood. Cock. Oh will the laughs ever cease?!

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

That's the traditional Chinese New Year greeting.
Loosely translated, it means, "Good Fortune to you!"
Don't go around saying it to the Chinese... they'll smile politely and think,
"Stupid Round Eye." Just Kidding. ;)

Congrats to all you Cocks, I mean, Roosters born in 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981 and 1993.

If you're a Dog like me... this is what 2005 has in stored.

Grouchy in 2005? That’s because your charitable schemes to raise the disheveled poor from their misery are hampered by the ultra conservative Rooster. Why is there no budget for the homeless? How come they don’t raise the minimum wage? Who made oil prices go up? Big business and its rapacious need to squelch the underDOG give you distemper. My advice? Wait it out in a state of cloud cuckoo LOVE. Find yourself a laugh-a-minute Tiger or a heady Horse to worship and adore. They will return your zealous ardor - in spades.

I needs me a Tiger or Horse. I wonder if horsehung will do? >:)

Promises to be an interesting year.
Here's a little more info about 2005 for the rest of our Chinese Zodiac.

Last Dance.

Did I unwittingly summon the deathknell of Spectrums by mentioning it?
Or am I just being paranoid?

Well... the Last Dance will be this Saturday, Feburary 12th. Spectrums will shutter it's doors. My Brooklyn friends are highly distraught. "It's the end of an era!!!", has been cried into my ears.

As I've said before, it was a gay Brooklynite's rite of passage. In it's heyday, Thursday nights were as infamous as Bump Sundays at Palladium... at least, from the Brooklyn point of view. With 2 for 1 drinks until well into the evening, and a wee door cost, everyone happily drank and partied it up locally. Halloween was also a night to look forward to. The freaks live in the outer boroughs or haven't you heard?

Unfortunately, I can't say that Spectrums is closing on a high note. After years of declining attendance and presumably dismal bar receipts, we've stretched far beyond the point of diminishing returns. 2-4-1, long ago, went the way of the dodo, and the door cost has been an abysmal $10 for which you gained entry and nothing else. Trust me, if you see it and hear it... you'd understand what I'm saying.

While I won't be the first on line to pay what is most likely to be an overinflated Last Dance cover charge, my presence has been requested at said event. Perhaps I'll parlay the evening into an outing to Roxy. Haven't done that in a blue moon.

Drained.

This weekend has been nothing short of an emotionally exhausting one. Much of the weekend was spent keeping company with Anne-Marie, her girlfriend and her family. I did what I could to help and allow them to grieve. I'll spare you the heartrending details. Suffice to say, we bid farewell to a great lady and her legacy lives on.

I'll also spare you my many thoughts on life, death, mortality etc. There's nothing that I've been thinking that probably hasn't already been said.

From here, the only way is up.

When blog meets blog.

Or He said, He said.

Synchronize blogs… now.



Since starting my blog, I'd been exchanging emails and chatting with Erik aka RoboCub. Last night, I had the opportunity to meet him, in the flesh, and get acquainted over a few drinks. We met up at The View. Erik is simply, super cool. A dashingly handsome, self-described cub with a dash of geek to make the picture complete, cutie with brains. I'd met his friends, Mark and Gary, all equally sweet guys. They were all Aquarians... eep... I'm a Leo, they're my astrological nemesis. How will a fire sign stay afloat in this water elemental group?!?

I felt the stranger to the group, at first, as Erik handed Mark a DVD of porn!! (damn, I need more friends like this.) Gorge for those of you interested.

Topics of conversation ranged from blogs, bloggers, gay (naturally), dancing (Roxy, Alegria et al), Music (Danny Howells, iPods) and even U68, the precursor to MTV. LOL. Erik and I soon fell into some über-geek talk, Macs, OSX, iPods, Anime (StarBlazers, Battle of the Planets). We had to bring the conversation back to include our company. We did get some alone geek time.

Erik and his martinis, and me with my vodka and cranberry... we were feeling pretty good by the end of the night. Gary (beefy, sexy, cute) came back after dinner with Tom and laundry for one last round of $1 margaritas.

An auspicious beginning to what I believe to be a great friendship. I'm looking forward to some proper dancing and carousing about.

Cheers.

Some geeky pics because I have to. :)

What do I say?

What do I say to my friend, who's mother has just passed?
How do I express my disappointment in,
the prospects brightening then turned to black?
The clichés well up, ready to fill the awkward silences.
Clumsy, dull words. Empty and hollow utterances.
My friend deserves greater, than anything I could speak.
The pain borne of love and loss, my friend will forever keep.
I'll take her into my arms, hug till she is quiet.
My heart bursting to receive her, the hurt, we can't deny it.
We've had joy, we've had laughter. Into despair, I'm prepared to fall.
For my Anne, I share her anguish. There, I think I've said it all.

In loving memory of Antoinette Martino.

At the mercy of others.

10:58 PM NoHo - Still in the office. Waiting on those above. Not a metaphor for divine intervention, slow pokes on the fifth, two floors up. Production work can be thankless, unrewarding and unending. How melodramatic of me. It does end, Happily or spend a fair amount of time pointing fingers and talk of process. Always talk. Process is an overburdened monster. Wrought by idiot minds to find worth in their insignificance.

Haven't you heard? Simplicity, it's the new process. From point A to point DONE.

Take responsibility for your actions. Stop the hot potatoe mentality towards ownership.

Sheesh.

I've waited 4 hours for 6 paragraphs, inserted to a presentation in less than 15 minutes. At least, I got sushi... and it was good. Meanwhile, the camera finds subjects.



Home. D to N. Reset.. see you tomorrow.